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This is a rare example of Reznor directly referencing a name (<blockquote><p>"Oh, and "Annie") in his lyrics. Usuallywas abstractly referring to a college sweetheart/ heartbreak situation that, he uses ambiguous pronouns. This expresses at the need for attachmenttime I was writing that song, the need was a valid source of emotional pain to interact intimately with another human despite the narrator's extreme attempts to detach himself draw from the world.Her real name is Andrea Mulrain, and her phone number is [number deleted for privacy purposes. -Patriot Act Ed.]"</p> <p>—Reznor [http://www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/manager/display_article.php?id=11]</p></blockquote>
→The Becoming (Instrumental)
| album ='' [[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]]''
| length = 5:31
| BPM = 150| versions = The Becoming<br>The Becoming (Instrumental)<br>The Becoming (''[[Still]]'')| live = [[Dissonance]] tour <br> [[Performance 2007]]<br>[[Wave Goodbye Tour|]]<br>[[NIN|JA 20092014 Europe/UK Tour]]
}}'''"The Becoming"''' is the seventh track on the 1994 album ''[[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]].''
A semi-acoustic version can be found on ''[[Still]],'' which has an accompanying performance video released at the time on [[nin.com]].
===MeaningAnnie===The lyrics describe In a man fighting against himself2004 interview for ''Alternative Press'', trying to avoid his "becoming," transforming him into a machine without human characteristics and feelings. Its structure, described below, is indicative [[Trent Reznor]] was asked about the use of the name Annie in this strugglesong.
===Song Credits===
==Versions==
===The Becoming===
This is the original album version. It begins in a 13/8 time signature with a manipulated piano line, then bursts into drum and sample loops of screams taken from the film ''Robot Joxx''. The drum loop pattern is also nearly identical in "[[The Way Out Is Through]]." At the 3-minute mark, it mellows into an acoustic guitar-led passage in 6/8, with machine-like loops and synthesized chorus pads sampled from Reznor's voice. There is a final outburst of noise and screaming before returning to the acoustic section, which crossfades with the opening of "[[I Do Not Want This]]." ===The Becoming (Instrumental)==='''''Running Time: 6:24''''' Released by Reznor via his [[remix.nin.com]] account, this unmastered instrumental version is extended in length, as it does not fade out the ending, rather looping the acoustic guitar riff many times until stopping.
===The Becoming (''Still'')===
'''''Running Time: 4:30''''' This version appears on the ''Still'' CD, which was Disc 2 of the Deluxe Edition CD of ''And All That Could Have Been'' and is currently available through nin.com. Simpler in its instrumentation and without the sample loops, it transitions immediately from the end of "[[The_Fragile_%28song%29#The_Fragile_.28Still.29|The Fragile]]" and ends suddenly after the final "noisy" section. Though he is absent from the credits, [[Danny Lohner]] is clearly seen performing in the video.
====Song Credits====
*Second Engineering: [[Leo Herrera]]
*Programming: [[Keith Hillebrandt]]
==Live==
This song, played live frequently on the [[Dissonance]] Tour and relegated to rarity status until its brief return on the [[Performance 2007]] Tour, was resurrected for the [[Wave Goodbye Tour]], during which it was characterized by [[Robin Finck]]'s use of an acoustic guitar throughout. However, the structure of the song stayed close to the album version, with distortion used on the acoustic guitar for the loud parts. These performances also dropped the ''Robot Joxx'' sample loop.
==Lyrics==
==External Links==
*[http://www.rob-sheridanvimeo.com/61677369 "The Becoming" (''Still'') music video]*[http://becomingvimeo.html com/5133409 "StillThe Becoming" videolive from on stage at the Sasquatch Festival, 5.24.09] <br>
{{Succession box
| title=[[The Downward Spiral (halo)#Track Listing (original release and DVD-A release)|The Downward Spiral]]